The 2013 Nexus wireless charger review: Can you justify a $50 phone charger?

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A charger is traditionally something that comes free with your mobile device. Manufacturers might have done away with included microSD cards, earbuds, and cases, but you always get a charging cable in the box. Many devices come with wireless charging built-in these days, and there is even a consensus emerging on which standard should be used.

Last year Google released one of the first big Qi-compatible phones, the Nexus 4. Later came the $60 wireless charging orb. Now the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 have their own updated wireless charger for $50. In a market that is increasingly saturated with $20 imported Qi charging pads, is there an argument to be made for spending more than twice as much?

The first thing you’ll notice about the new Nexus wireless charger is that it’s absolutely tiny — only 60mm on a side and 12.5mm tall. It’s a little understated block on your desk that takes up almost no space when not in use. The surface is shiny with a very faint Nexus logo in the center, but you might miss it if you aren’t paying attention.

The charger is not terribly heavy, but it is dense. The orb from last year added stability simply by being heavy, but the 2013 wireless charger actually has a reusable adhesive on the bottom. It can stick very well to any smooth surface. Desks and nightstands are fine, of course, but walls, mirrors, and headboards are also fair game. Each time you move the unit, you have to apply a fair bit of force to dislodge it, but the instructions say it can be reconditioned with water to continue sticking. Moving it often will probably still wear the adhesive down, though.

So why is the bottom so sticky? There’s a magnet inside this charger that holds your phone steady, and the grip is very strong. Simply lifting the phone up would bring the whole charger along were it not for the adhesive. Even last year’s orb would come up with the phone a bit, and that was just a micro-suction texture instead of a magnet.

The magnetic docking works splendidly on the Nexus 5 (check out our full review) — the magnet yanks it over to the right spot unless you’re deliberately trying to place it on wrong. The larger surface area of the 2013 Nexus 7 makes it a bit harder to line up, but the magnetic hold is centered over the coils. When it’s on, it stays on. In fact, you can flip the charger upside down and even the heavier Nexus 7 will stay attached.

The magnet and the mounting options are cool features, but it’s also very reliable. It charges the phone from about 7mm away, which means most cases shouldn’t interfere, assuming the material isn’t a problem. It also cycles on and off properly to keep the phone or tablet near 100%. However, Qi chargers cannot do true trickle charging like USB can.

There are a ton of very inexpensive chargers out there, but few of them include all the features you get with the very premium Nexus charger. The cheaper units sometimes charge inconsistently, have poor build quality, or do something ridiculous like beep loudly when the device is docked or has finished charging. Some of the real budget units have have a distinctive sound they make while in use — it’s like a ticking or popping noise.

Most people who buy a wireless charger will get the cheap ones from Amazon, and that’s fine. They will probably work well enough for a while, but maybe your next phone won’t work very well with that particular charger. The Nexus orb, for example, was a neat idea, but not all devices will stick to it very well. The Nexus 5 sort of works, but the grip isn’t as good as it should be.

The new Nexus charger should stay with you for a while. It’s just a flat block and the magnets will help almost any phone stay put — even phones not designed with this unit in mind are somewhat magnetic. If you’re going to spend big on a wireless charger, they can get up to $70 easily. The 2013 Nexus charger could make a lot of sense if you look at it as a long-term purchase for just $50, and it’s a very good device.